Hiking Boots Reviews

We found the best reviews of hiking shoes and boots at Backpacker Magazine, where experienced hikers test over 30 pairs under rugged conditions. Outside Magazine also tests hiking shoes, and editors at both publications give annual awards to the best new hiking boots or shoes of the year. We also found the owner-written ratings and reviews at REI.com particularly valuable; this site makes it especially easy to find the top-rated hiking boots and shoes for both men and women. Keep in mind that some people prefer to wear trail-running shoes for day hikes or easy hiking. These are covered in a separate ConsumerSearch report.

Hiking-boot reviews show a clear trend in recent years toward "less is more" – away from heavy-duty all-leather hiking boots except for off-trail backpacking with heavy loads. Instead, expert reviews recommend buying the lightest hiking shoes or boots that will serve your needs. Several studies have shown that wearing one extra pound on your feet takes as much energy as carrying five or six pounds in a backpack.

While well-constructed leather hiking boots can be seam-sealed and waterproofed, lightweight hiking boots and shoes usually incorporate areas of mesh for ventilation, using breathable linings for waterproofing. Breathability becomes a big issue in hiking-boot reviews, since these linings vary in how well they release the inevitable sweat that comes from exertion. Reviews say eVENT breathes better than Gore-Tex XCR, which in turn breathes better than standard Gore-Tex. However, even hiking shoes and boots using the same type of lining get different ratings for breathability, so specifications don't tell the whole story.  ... Continued

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

We found the most consistent reviews for the mid-cut Keen Targhee II for both men and women, and at about $120, it's a good value in a hiking boot.

If you prefer a full boot, we found good reviews for the Columbia Frontier Peak GTX, but this boot is now being phased out, and we haven't yet seen reviews on its replacement. The Asolo TPS is also a full boot, and although most owners like it, it's heavy compared to the Kayland Vertigo High, which recently won an award from Backpacker Magazine. Also among full boots, the Meindl Perfekt is recommended; these use a cork insole that eventually conforms to the wearer's feet, but requires a break-in period.

The Danner Radical lightweight hiking boots get good user reviews, but we were troubled by some reports we read about stitching coming loose. Instead, we included the Timberland Cadion boots in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers, which cost the same and get especially good comments from owners for their water resistance and comfort out of the box.

We didn't find much consensus in reviews for low-cut hiking shoes, but a recent award in Backpacker Magazine for the Hi-Tec V-Lite Radar II Event Low prompted us to include it in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers as a first consideration.